Lynn van Summeren — Roepman Lab

Research profile

Position: PhD Student

Contact: mailto: Lynn.vanSummeren@radboudumc.nl

I started my bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at Radboud University in 2020. I developed a strong interest in genetics and molecular medicine through my elective courses. During the final semester of my Bachelor’s, I completed a research internship at Oxford University, where I wrote my thesis on the general localization of the Calcium Sensing Receptor and investigated a patient carrying a genetic mutation in the CaSR gene. This experience further strengthened my interest in genetics and molecular research.

Motivated to deepen my knowledge, I continued with a Master’s degree in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease at Radboud University. During this program, I conducted an internship at the Department of Human Genetics at Radboudumc under the supervision of Dr. Erik de Vrieze. My research focused on interactions of the Cochlin protein and the development of a potential CRISPR/Cas9-based therapy for DFNA9.

For my final research internship and thesis, I moved to Vienna to join Universität Wien. There, I broadened my research scope by exploring the role of the immune system in brain ageing in mice. During this period, I remained in contact with Erik de Vrieze, who informed me of a PhD opportunity in the Department of Genetics at Radboudumc under the supervision of Prof. Ronald Roepman. Following several rounds of interviews, I was pleased to accept the position.

Since September 2025, I have been working on my PhD project, titled “Harnessing autophagy to combat cone photoreceptor degeneration in IRDs.”